Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-02-04
A VENETIAN HEROINE.
BY NENA sTURGIs.

lulli Inc ntCle waves OF the Lagoon
were tipped with silver, and the moon,
light streamed in broad patches upon
the old Basilica of St Marks, as well as
upon the stone pavement of the Piazza,
The Cafe Florian bla ed with lights.
and crowds of people sat outside, round
the little tables, slipping their coffee and
smoking their cigars while they listened
to the music of the regimental band
playing in the Piazza. The flower girls
were driving good trade, Judging from
the speed which the pretty boutonnieres
disappeared.
Among the flower girls there was one
who arrested our attention at once. She
was tall and slight, with large gray eyes,
a clear skin, and moved very gracefully.
1t was real pleasure to watch her, as
she pushed her way through the dense
throngs which crowded the Piazza.
Every one had a nod and smile for
"Teresina."
Her hair was gathered loosely at the
back of her head and fell down upon her
neck in natural curls, setting off her
pretty head to advantage. But Teresina's
greatest charm was her smile. While in
reposa her face was a sad one, but when
she smiled it was quite transformed and
was like ripple OF sunshine.
We, being strangers, were much taken
with Teresina's pretty ways, but could
not understand, with so many pretty
flower girls about, why she should be
treated with such marked respect and
esteem. One evening, therefore, we
asked our gondolier whether he knew
the Teresina and could tell us anything
about her.
'Know the Teresina." he replied.
Every one does. She is the bravest
woman in Venice and saved the Priuli
palace from being robbed once"
Tell us about it." we exclaimed.
And this is what he told us:
One night just such another night as
this the Terc ina had made her third
round of the Piazza and had sold all the
flowers that she had. The band was
playing as usual, and Teresina being
tired out leaned against one of the pill
lars of the arcade near the Cafe Florian
to rest herself.
Suddenly she became conscious, above
the din and noise, of voices close behind
her, and turning her head she saw two
gondollers leaning against the same pill
lar as herself, only round the corner
where they could not see her. They
seemed to be deep in some conversation
which they did not wish others to hear,
for their heads were close togethet and
they were trying to talk as softly as was
possible IN the noise which surrounded
them.
Teresina recognized them as the gon-
doliers of the Marchesa Contarini from
their crimson sashes, silver ann badges,
and white costumes. Tcresina thought
no more about them, but stood watching
the passers by, waiting for the clock to
strike 10 before she went to find her
lover Antonio, who would then be on
duty at the steps of the Royal gardens
In his gondola. But her attention was
at last arrested by hearing one Of the
men say almost in her ear: "The Signor
Marchese is not in Venice just now and
there Is no one left to guard the palace
but that fool Of Pietro and his deaf
old Gianna. The silver there is some
thing fabulous, they say, and before any
one could know, we, should have cot
safe away to Milan or Bologna with the
booty"
The other gondolier murmured some
thing which Teresina could not catch,
but SIZE listened now with all her might.
for she knew that the "Signor Marchese'
referred to was the young Marchese
Priull-whose fam ly had been her kind
est patrons in Venice-and she felt sure
that some mischief was breeding, which
she perhaps might prevent.
She heard all The details of the robbery,
the time and place appointed for the
meeting, watched the two gondoliers
until they left the Piazza in attendance
OF their mistress and her niece and then
she hurried as fast as her feet could carry
her to the Royal gardens where she ex-
pected to meet Antonio.
he policeman who was walking up
and down near the gardens said "1oo,i
evening" to her as she passed him. Sud-
denly she stopped and said:
''Do you know where Antonio Gecchio
is stationed tonight Gondola 1885,"
The policeman looked over the parapet
bordering the agooA, sh lutcd out AN
tonic, ~ ," and in n moment the answer
returned from corner near the steps in
the garden, 'Ecco mi qua =" (here | am
Teresina walked rapidly to the place
from which the voice came and found
Antonio standing on the last step but
one of the marble flight leading to the
water, talking to one of the very Condo.
Tiers whose conversation she had over
heard in the Piazza.
When Antonio caught sight of Tere
sina standing at the top of the steps, he
saw by her excited face that something
unusual had - urred Her cheeks were
flushed will. The speed she had made
her eyes were sparkling and her breath
came short and quick.
"What is the matter" he cried whe1
he came up to her.
She answered with the question:
els not that nun you were talking
with one of the gondolers of the Mar.
chesa ContariniP'
eyes, Why" inquired Antonio.
II only wished to be sure. saw hin
aud that scamp of Giorgione talking
in the Pia just now and they have beer
plotting to rob the Palazzo Priu i to
night at o'clock The family are al
away and they have left no one in the
house excepting that poor de repid Pie
tro and that deaf wife of his. What car
we do to save the poor Marchese such ,
loss You know they have quantity
of valuab c silver, and l believe thai
they have left it a | in the house, as they
were going away for so short time"
"More fools they" retorted Antonio
II would not NEEDLE with those men il
Iwere you" Teresina. They are desper
ate characters, and every one know
what scamps they are. Better leave then
alone and pretend that you know moth
ing 1t would do us no good to have
knife run into you, and the saints know